Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby

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Anyone who’s seen these two virtuosos tear it up onstage together knows about their natural chemistry—Bruce’s piano and Ricky’s mandolin dance circles around one another until everyone’s head spins. What their first studio foray together lacks in onstage energy it more than makes up for in its sense of fun and adventure. Their impish bluegrass retooling of Rick James’ funk classic “Super Freak” will attract attention, but the real highlight is a mournful take on Bruce’s 1987 pop hit “Mandolin Rain.”